Seidman Resources Lead to Student Success

Michael Kurley '13, and Vanessa Gore and Lindsay Noonan, both Class of 2014, are the beneficiaries of gifts to the Seidman College of Business and the new L. William Seidman Center. The trio has travelled the country, pitched at business competitions, and won $25,000 as the co-founders of Soletics, Inc., a company that creates winter athletic gear.

Soletics’ first product is a solar powered athletic jacket that heats the wearer’s extremities while simultaneously cooling their core. The merging of technology and clothing is an innovative idea garnering the team success.

"This is an experience I would have never dreamed possible,” said Lindsay, who thought of an early concept of the product while on a cold winter run.

The students met in a management course at Grand Valley and signed up to participate in the Michigan Clean Energy Venture Challenge. After winning best prototype the team decided to focus on making their idea a reality. They’ve continued to win accolades since, including $25,000 at the Accelerate Michigan Student Pitch Competition.

The students recognize the opportunities that Grand Valley provided them through their journey. “The resources available to you here, if you are willing to engage them, are phenomenal,” Michael said.

“When we graduate, we’ll have real, relevant experience thanks to the Seidman College of Business,” Lindsay said. “This is real experience that you can’t get anywhere else.”

Soletics is continuing to develop their product and aiming for a functional product that can be mass produced by the end of 2014.